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Ampelaster carolinianus (Walter) Nesom. Common name: Climbing Aster. Phenology: Late Sep-Dec. Habitat: Swamps, thickets, marshes, streambanks, freshwater tidal marshes and swamps. Distribution: Se. NC south to s. FL, west to s. AL. Reported for s. AL (H. Horne, pers. comm. 2017).

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Other Comments: Grown horticulturally, and may be found outside of native distribution and habitats (as in upland, suburban settings).

Synonymy : = FNA20, Nesom (1994a); = Aster carolinianus Walter — GW2, RAB, S, SE1, (basionym); = Lasallea caroliniana (Walter) Semple & Brouillet — Semple & Brouillet (1980a); = Symphyotrichum carolinianum (Walter) Wunderlin & B.F.Hansen — Fl7, WH3; = Virgulus carolinianus (Walter) Reveal & Keener

Links to other floras: = Ampelaster carolinianus - FNA20

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL

Heliophily : 5

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image of plant© Alan Cressler: Ampelaster carolinianus, Juniper Creek, Juniper Prairie Wilderness, Ocala National Forest, Marion County, Florida 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Ampelaster carolinianus, Juniper Creek, Juniper Prairie Wilderness, Ocala National Forest, Marion County, Florida 4 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: ampelaster carolinianus, patrick creek, the nature conservancy, tiger creek preserve, polk county, florida 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: ampelaster carolinianus, big creek swamp, hilochee wildlife management area, lake county, florida 3 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: ampelaster carolinianus, big creek swamp, hilochee wildlife management area, lake county, florida 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Robust, scrambling-sprawling perennial found in coastal swamps, thickets, marshes and stream banks.

Stems: Stems weak, woody, branching and criss-crossing, hairy.

Leaves: Leaves alternate, with clasping bases, elliptic to lance-shaped, 3/4-2 in. long, hairy at least beneath and rough on both surfaces.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Composite flowers in stalked, daisy-like heads. Heads consisting of 50-70 purple-pink, narrow, 1/2-3/4 in. long ray florets encircling a center disk of yellow-turning-red tubular florets. Green and white, narrow bracts surround the cylindrical base of each head.

Fruits:

Comments: Sometimes planted in gardens.

Height: to 6+ ft.

plant sale text: Climbing aster is a most unusual aster, as it grows like a vine and blooms very late in the year, even after frost. Its clusters of starry pinkish-purple flowers are a delightful sight in the late fall garden. Often it is in full bloom around Thanksgiving! You can grow climbing aster on an arbor, fence, or trellis. Native to the coastal plain of North Carolina, climbing aster grows very well in the average garden. You may have seen this plant featured at Montrose Gardens in Hillsborough.

bloom table text:

description: Robust, scrambling-sprawling perennial found in coastal swamps, thickets, marshes and stream banks.

stems: Stems weak, woody, branching and criss-crossing, hairy.

leaves: Leaves alternate, with clasping bases, elliptic to lance-shaped, 3/4-2 in. long, hairy at least beneath and rough on both surfaces.

inflorescence:

flowers: Composite flowers in stalked, daisy-like heads. Heads consisting of 50-70 purple-pink, narrow, 1/2-3/4 in. long ray florets encircling a center disk of yellow-turning-red tubular florets. Green and white, narrow bracts surround the cylindrical base of each head.

fruits:

comments: Sometimes planted in gardens.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: NC, SC, GA & FL

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